DeWitt -- Chief Gene Conway said he wanted to dispel rumors that a "standoff" took place Thursday at 119 Stillwater Drive as a result of a child at school smelling like gasoline.

DeWitt Police responded to a call from a teacher who said a student came into school smelling like gasoline.

But when police went to the child's home, his father exited the house peacefully. It was just a matter of waking the man up, Conway said.

The father, Brandon Pham, has been charged with three misdemeanors: endangering the welfare of a child, reckless endangerment and attempted arson.

Pham, 40, poured gasoline on himself or inside the home, Conway said. Pham was intoxicated when they arrived. He was unconscious, either from drinking too much alcohol or because he was sleeping.

"It was never a standoff," Conway said. "It was really checking on the welfare of someone in the house. He never threatened anybody."

Several police cars surrounded the house, which is near the intersection of Franklin Park Drive and Kirkville Road, but no major roads were closed by police.

Nobody in the neighborhood was in harm's way, Conway said.

Police waited until Pham responded to the sound of a siren or a phone call instead of entering the house immediately because the gasoline could have been dangerous. Conway said no matches or other methods of ignition were used by Pham.

When Pham exited the house, he was cooperative, Conway said. Police brought him to the hospital.

Friday, after his release from the hospital, Pham was arraigned in the town of DeWitt court on the three misdemeanor charges against him.